Track-fastener for fibrous railroad-torpedoes.



I PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

F. BUTCHER. TRACK FASTENBR FOR FIBROUS RAILROAD TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG117, 1905.

Wit-names I so tread of the rail.

FRANK DUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACK-FASTENER FOR FIBROUS FiAlLFiOAD-TORPED OES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed August 17, 1905. Serial N- 274,595.

:0 This invention relates to improvements in track-fasteners for fibrousrailroad-torpedoes, and the object of which is to securely and effi-"ciently attach a spring-fastening to a fibrous or paper torpedoj As iswell known by those skilled in this art, a spring-fastening for atorpedo exerts considerable pressure tending tobreak it away from thetorpedo when the free ends or arms of the spring are forced apart andwhen they are released to grab the It has therefore been found difficultto attach a spring fastening to a fibrous or paper torpedo-case in amanner which is both simple and eificient and which will prevent it frombeing torn away from the :5 torpedo when the spring is extended andsuddenly released for attaching it to the tread of a railroad-rail. Itis also well known to those skilled in this art that torpedoes areprovided with. spring-fastenings, more particularly for ;o the purposeof enabling them to be placed upon the tread of the rail through themedium of well-known forms of torpedo-placers from the rear end of amoving train. This mode of attachment also tends to break away ,5 thefastening from the torpedo, as will be readily appreciated.

By means of my present invention I am enabled to attach aspring-fastening to a fibrous or paper torpedo in a manner which willpre- .0 vent it from being broken away under the strains and jerks towhich such a fastening is subjected in the application of the torpedo toa railroad-rail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is .5 a perspective View of myinvention applied to a railroad-rail, the fibrous or paper case beingbroken away to show in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view ofthe same, showing it applied to a railroad-rail. Fig. 3

ing member 3, the two members being in an inverted position, as readilyshown. For the purpose of further strengthening the torpedocase I placethe containing-receptacle composed of the members 1 and 2 in a largercupshaped inclosing member 4:, though I desire it to be understood thatthis member 4, while preferable, is not absolutely necessary to mypresent invention. Also for the purpose of strengthening the torpedo andholding the flanges of the paper or fibrous cup-shaped members in properposition and preventing them from spreading and also for the purpose ofoffering resistance to the explosive force of the detonating compoundIsurround the edge of the case with a combined holding and strengtheningband 5. I desire it to be understood, however, that this surroundingholding and strengthening band forms no part of my present invention.This feature is made the subject of a copending application.

My presentimprovement relates to the manner of attaching thespring-fastening 6 to the torpedo; and it consists in placing in one ofthe members of the torpedo-case a metallic disk 7 and passing a rivet 8through the case, the metallic disk, and the fastening 6, and thusriveting them firmly together. I prefer to have the metallic plate inthe outer inclosing member 4, though, as before stated, it may be placedwithin one of the other members of the case Without departing from thespirit and scope of my present invention.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the disk 7 may be placed ineither ofthe members 2, 3, or 4; but preferably it is either in themember 3 or A, the member 2 being the containing member proper, and themember 3 an inclosing member, and the member 4 an additional inclosingmember. The particular reason for connecting the strap 6 to one of theinclosing members 3 or 4 is that it will leave the containing member 2entirely freeand unencumbered with the strap for filling purposesthat isto say, the person assembling the torpedo can more readily fill thecontaining member if the strap is not attached to it than it is possibleto do if the strap is attached to it. As far as I am aware I am thefirst one to connect a rail-engaging strap to the outer member of atorpedo, whereby the foregoing advantages are obtained. This metallicdisk or plate 7 ispreferably made of a size to fit within the members ofthe case containing it, though this may be Varied Without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention, the broad idea of which is tounite the spring to the fibrous or paper case through the medium of ametallic or hard substance member placed within one member of the case,the spring placed upon the outside of the case, and the rivet passingthrough the spring, the case, and the plate and riveting them firmly andsecurely together.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I effect a fastening in such amanner that it will not be separated or torn away from the paper orfibrous case, and at the same time the parts are so arranged that whenthe torpedo explodes no part of the metal portion of the torpedo will bedismembered or segregated and caused to fly, and thus probably causeinjury to persons standing near.

It will be understood that the object of the fibrous or papertorpedo-case is to provide a torpedo of such a material that when it eX-plodes there are no metal parts to fly and strike persons and causeinjury, which is true of the metallic torpedoes, and in order to havethe paper or fibrous torpedo retain the non-flying and non-injuriouscharacter the parts which unite the spring must be so arranged as toprevent them from flying under the explosion of the detonating material.I accomplish this in a very simple and efficient manner by theconstruction which I herein show and have described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of a fibrous case or containerfor the detonating material, a plate ormember within the case, aspring-clasp at the outer side of the case, and a rivet passing throughthe spring, the case, and the plate and uniting the parts together.

2. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of a containing case,comprising telescoping fibrous members, one of said members containingat its inner side a disk or plate, a spring-clasp at the outer side ofthe case, and a rivet passing through the spring, the case and theplate, and uniting the parts together.

' 3. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of a containing-case, aplate within the case, a spring located outside of the case, and a rivetpassing through the spring, the case and uniting the parts together.

4. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of a containing-case, aplatewithin the case of a shape corresponding to the bottom of the case,

case, and the plate and serving to unite the parts together.

6. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of acontaining-case, asurrounding inclosing case for the containing-case, a plate within thesurrounding case, a rail-engaging memberoutside of the inclosing case,and arivet passing through the rail-engaging member, the inclosing case,and the plate and serving to unite the parts together.

7. In a railroad-torpedo, the combination of a fibrous containing-case,a plate within the case, a rail-engaging member outside of the case, andmeans for uniting the plate and the rail-engaging member and holdingtheparts together.

8. An improved railway-torpedo, consisting of a containing-case and aninclosing case, and a rail-engaging strap connected to the inclosingcase.

9. An improved railway-torpedo, comprising a case composed of acontaining member, and an inclosing member telescoping the containingmember, and a strap-fastening carried by the inclosing member.

10. An improved fibrous railway-torpedo, consisting of a fibrous casewhich comprises a containing member and an inclosing member, and arail-engaging strap connected to the inclosing member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTGHER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT WILsON, ALVIN JUNPINN.

